Mall executives told the state they planned to claim about $10 million in tax credits on their 2010 tax returns. That makes the mall developers the No. 1 recipient of Empire Zone tax breaks in Syracuse and ranks the partners No. 4 in the state.

Also among the top recipients of tax breaks is an energy company called NRG Energy, a Princeton, N.J.-based business that operates electric generating stations. The company took the most credits of any business in New York state in 2010, according to records on file at Empire State Development.

The company’s Tonawanda site claimed $15 million. It employs a grand total of 12.5 people, including full-time and part-time jobs. The company added one employee at that location in 2010.

NRG claimed another $10.4 million in tax breaks on its Dunkirk site. There, the company employs 3 people and added no new employees in 2010, records show.